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Jackson Sparks identifies trade targets in fantasy football dynasty leagues for 2025. These are potentially undervalued players to target in keeper formats.
What is more fun than buying and selling players in dynasty fantasy football leagues? If you haven't been wheeling and dealing so far this offseason, it's time to start sending offers ahead of the 2025 NFL campaign before players start to gain or lose significant value. Identifying buy-low candidates or undervalued fantasy football veterans is key to staying ahead of the competition, so let's dive into some dynasty buys below.
In this article, we'll focus on players that can be reasonably acquired from your league mates. Although you should absolutely try to "buy high" on players like Justin Jefferson, Brock Bowers, Jayden Daniels, and Jahmyr Gibbs, that is easier said than done. We're also leaning toward targeting younger players, but it's not a bad idea to trade for aging veterans if your team is clearly in "win-now" mode.
The value and price of these players vary widely from league to league, but you should try your best to at least put out feelers for these rising dynasty assets. After this article, be sure to check out these top dynasty sell candidates. Let's dive in!
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Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
KeepTradeCut Dynasty Ranking: WR16
Rice is the most expensive dynasty asset featured in this article, but he's cheaper to acquire than his upside warrants. The SMU product is heading into his third NFL campaign after an unfortunate sudden end to his 2024 season. In three full games a season ago, Rice caught 24 of his 29 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns. It looks like he will play in most of the 2025 season, so he's primed for a big year.
Then, disaster struck as he suffered a major knee injury in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
While it can be a dangerous game to evaluate his three-game production and try to extrapolate it for a full season, he was on a 17-game pace for 164.3 targets, 136 receptions, 1,632 receiving yards, and 11.3 receiving touchdowns. That would put him roughly at 365.2 PPR fantasy points over a full season, placing him as the WR2 behind only Ja'Marr Chase.
Even if you're being cautious with projecting what the rest of his season would have looked like, a top-12 WR finish was firmly in the range of outcomes.
However, it's also important to remember that Rice had a promising 2023 rookie season, snagging 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. Below is the full list of rookie WRs with at least 900 receiving yards since 2020:
- Justin Jefferson
- CeeDee Lamb
- Tee Higgins
- Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Ja'Marr Chase
- Jaylen Waddle
- DeVonta Smith
- Garrett Wilson
- Chris Olave
- Puka Nacua
- Jordan Addison
- Ladd McConkey
- Brian Thomas Jr.
- Malik Nabers
That's pretty good company, wouldn't you say? Early-career production from wideouts is one of the most clear indicators of future success and excellence. Now, combine that with the fact that Rice is tied to Patrick Mahomes for the foreseeable future, and Travis Kelce is a shell of his former self.
Rice looked ready to take over the target hog role in Kansas City last year, and he's already a full participant in training camp this year. By the end of the 2025 season, it would not be a surprise if Rice is a clear top 5-10 dynasty WR. Off-the-field trouble continues to hang over the 25-year-old's head, but in a dynasty league, a brief suspension should not scare you off of him.
Opening drive touchdown for Rashee Rice and the Chiefs!#MIAvsKC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bTakd7vjlv pic.twitter.com/VwS7YRk2Yg— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2024
Now could be the last time to buy him before he goes nuclear. He's the No. 1 trade target on the list.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
KeepTradeCut Dynasty Ranking: WR29
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Not long after setting the NFL record for receptions among rookies (104), then following it up with a 1,356-yard campaign as a sophomore, Waddle has plummeted in the dynasty rankings and is now valued as a mid-range WR3.
Entering the NFL in 2021 out of Alabama, Waddle immediately became a go-to target for Tua Tagovailoa, and he ranks 17th all-time in receiving yards in the first three seasons of a career (3,385)-- just behind Isaac Bruce (3,391) and CeeDee Lamb (3,396) He posted WR1 finishes in 2021 and 2022, but injuries and his QB1 missing time have put a stop to his rising fantasy production.
Even though he was discounted entering last season, it was the most disappointing season of his career, as he caught just 58 passes for 744 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games. His 2024 resume of production has surely left a sour taste in his fantasy managers' mouths, so now is the time to take advantage.
Entering 2025, Tyreek Hill is heading into his age-31 season -- just a year after his worst fantasy output since his 2016 rookie year. Wide receivers who rely primarily on speed and explosiveness are safe bets to continue to decline after they pass the age apex, so Waddle has the opportunity to seize the clear WR1 role.
Additionally, tight end Jonnu Smith, who vultured 111 targets on mostly short and intermediate routes en route to a career season, has been dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers. And it's difficult to imagine Darren Waller becoming a target hog after a year off and several seasons removed from high-level play. Those are more positives for Waddle.
Lastly, Miami's offensive line struggles, which are often overlooked in fantasy football, can ultimately benefit Waddle. The 26-year-old figures to operate underneath and in the middle of the field more after the departure of Smith, and a struggling pass-blocking offensive line will force Tagovailoa to get rid of the ball quickly rather than being able to hang in the pocket and deliver a deep throw to Hill.
Jaylen Waddle 60-yard touchdown!
(Via: NFL, CBS)pic.twitter.com/PW8Kl3yGZt
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 17, 2023
Waddle is not a contested-catch specialist, but that's about the only flaw in his game. He has game-breaking speed, adequate route-running chops, and tremendous YAC ability. With the rest of Miami's offense seemingly deteriorating, Waddle is entering what should be his athletic prime. At his WR29 cost, he's sure to at least meet expectations if you trade for him, but his ceiling is significantly higher.
The main risk here is the health of Tagovailoa, but that makes him cheaper and easier to trade for.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
KeepTradeCut Dynasty Ranking: WR31
Like Waddle, Chris Olave began his career as an immediate impact player. In his first two NFL seasons, he collected 159 catches for 2,165 yards and nine touchdowns. However, like Waddle, his 2024 campaign also went downhill quickly due to factors beyond his control.
In Week 1, he tallied just two receptions for 11 yards, but New Orleans beat the Carolina Panthers by 37 points, so he was a victim of a positive game script. In the next three games, he tallied no fewer than 81 yards before a letdown game against the Kansas City Chiefs' fierce defense in Week 5 (two catches, 10 yards).
He then suffered an early-game concussion in Week 6, returned in Week 8 to rack up eight receptions on 14 targets for 107 yards, only to suffer yet another concussion in Week 9, which ended his season.
Needless to say, it was an unfortunate, unlucky, and weird campaign for the former Ohio State standout. But when you view his season in context, there were some positive signs. In his five "non-injury" games after the Week 1 blowout of Carolina, he averaged 74.2 receiving yards and 14.2 fantasy points per game despite catching just one touchdown during that sample.
Among PlayerProfiler-qualified wideouts, Olave ranked first in contested-catch rate (83.%), 16th in route win rate (49.7%), and 20th in yards per route run (2.23). The crafty route-runner knows how to separate, and he demonstrated his physicality at the catch-point in his limited action last season.
Now, his starting quarterback is likely to be rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough. That might not sound ideal, but his competition for targets includes Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, and Juwan Johnson. Shaheed is a dynamic deep threat, but he does not profile as a target-earner and is fresh off a significant injury. Johnson is a decent red zone threat, but nothing more.
Cooks is well beyond his prime and has not reached 60 catches or 700 yards since 2021.
Alvin Kamara will surely see a ton of dump downs and receiving volume, but Olave is the clear WR1 and top target in all areas of the field. Acquiring Olave is more of a long-term play for rebuilding rosters given the question marks at quarterback, but even a solid 1,000-yard campaign in 2025 will give him a boost in value. He's one of the best buy-low targets this offseason.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
KeepTradeCut Dynasty Ranking: RB27
Benson's rookie season was underwhelming, which makes him an affordable buy in the dynasty marketplace. The third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft enters his sophomore campaign as the RB2 in Arizona once again, and 30-year-old James Conner stands between him and a potential workhorse role.
Last year, Benson was an intriguing handcuff running back stash in redraft formats. After all, Conner had missed at least two games in all seven of his pro seasons entering 2024, and he missed at least four games on three occasions. However, he had an outlier healthy season last year, playing in 16 games. And unfortunately, it was in Week 18 when most fantasy leagues had already ended. Plus, Benson missed that game, too.
Will Conner repeat the clean bill of health in 2025? It's unlikely as he heads into Year 9 with 107 games played and 1,642 touches on his career resume. Whether the Cardinals begin to transition to a split backfield or Conner is absent for a handful of contests, Benson has a path to fantasy success and a value spike in dynasty.
In Year 1, Benson rushed 63 times for 291 yards and one touchdown, adding six receptions for 59 yards through the air. He didn't log enough touches to get a clear picture of his advanced metrics, but he finished 15th among all running backs in true yards per carry (4.5).
Benson's athletic and collegiate production profiles are strong. He posted a sub-4.4 forty-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine at 216 pounds, giving him a 98th-percentile speed score. In his final two years at Florida State, he racked up 1,895 rushing yards (6.1 YPC), 371 receiving yards (11.2 YPR), and 24 total touchdowns.
His performance on the field and during athletic testing earned him Day 2 draft capital, and Arizona took that shot despite having the established Conner on the roster.
College Football’s Fastest Five of the Week:
3. @FSUFootball RB Trey Benson (@trey_uno1) 22.0 mph #ReelSpeed 💨
🎥: @ESPNCFB
🔗 https://t.co/orrD059ykP pic.twitter.com/DWUOu2JR7l
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) October 11, 2023
Benson could very well be Arizona's running back of the future, and "the future" could start anytime Conner's body gives out. He possesses a versatile skill set and is a standout in terms of size and speed. Playing alongside dual-threat QB Kyler Murray can only help his chances of seeing wide running lanes, and Arizona has netted at least 100 running back targets in three of the four seasons Murray has played in at least 12 games since he entered the league in 2019.
We're talking about real upside here.
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
KeepTradeCut Dynasty Ranking: RB34
The Vikings clearly loved what they saw from Mason during his stretch as the 49ers' starter last year, so they did not hesitate to upgrade the RB2 spot this offseason and sent draft capital to pair him with Aaron Jones. Naturally, many fantasy managers are going to claim Mason's production is a product of the Kyle Shanahan system, and that's a fair question mark given all the mid-level ball carriers who have produced solid fantasy outings for the 49ers throughout the years.
However, Mason didn't get traded to some disaster of an offense with a poor offensive line. Instead, he's headed to play for Kevin O'Connell behind what is arguably a better offensive line in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Jones will turn 31 at the end of the 2025 campaign, and Minnesota's willingness and intention to address the RB2 spot before the 2025 NFL Draft, which was loaded with RB talent, is telling.
Jones just posted a career-high in rushing attempts (255) and total touches (306). Whether he fails to stay healthy or the Vikings aim to take some of the load off of him, it's not difficult to imagine Mason having a Week 1 role. Mason could be the clear early-down back, while Jones continues to occupy the pass-catching and third-down role.
Jones began his career as a satellite back paired with Jamaal Williams in the early-down role in Green Bay, and if he wants to extend the longevity of his career, a move back to that spot makes sense.
Mason has limited pass-catching upside. He's hauled in just 39 receptions between four collegiate and three NFL seasons. That makes him more interesting in standard or half-PPR scoring, but he proved last year that he can be one of the most efficient and explosive pure runners in the league with his 120.2 explosive rating (fourth), 4.8 true yards per carry (seventh), 5.4 yards per touch (ninth), and 12 breakaway runs (ninth).
With J.J. McCarthy effectively entering his rookie season, expect O'Connell to lean on his veteran backs.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
KeepTradeCut Dynasty Ranking: RB51
Is White likely to ever regain his status as an RB1 like in 2023 when he posted nearly 1,550 yards and nine touchdowns? No, those days are probably over. However, his price in dynasty has become ridiculously low, even after the disappointing 2024 season.
Despite being a fourth-round selection, Bucky Irving entered the Tampa Bay offense and immediately became the best ball carrier in the backfield, which soured White's future outlook. However, White was still in the satellite back role and continued to be heavily utilized in the receiving game.
Among all qualified running backs, White ranked third in routes run (303), fourth in route participation (52.8%), and fourth in catch rate (89.5%). He also ranked 13th in fantasy points per opportunity (0.99). His 10.8% target share, which ranked 19th among backs, is pretty impressive considering he had to share the backfield last season.
White's pass-catching skill set will keep him in the NFL for a long time, and it gives him flex value in dynasty leagues that require managers to start up to three or four flex spots. So, no, he's not a workhorse, but he'll continue to have PPR value in 2025, and if Irving has to miss any time, White will be right back in the starting role in one of the league's best offenses.
After finishing last season as the overall RB22 (PPR) with three top-5 weekly finishes and eight top-24 finishes, how does it make any sense for him to be the RB51 in dynasty behind the likes of J.K. Dobbins, Jaylen Warren, Tank Bigsby, Tyjae Spears, and more?
Baker's second TD pass of the day goes to Rachaad White!
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ccAbGOIsXZ— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
As an added bonus, White is a free agent following the 2025 campaign, and this could very well be his last season in Tampa Bay. Again, his pass-catching skill set is a coveted asset in the NFL, so don't be surprised if he's catching passes in bunches for a new team in 2026. If your league mate with White is willing to sell him for pennies on the dollar, go get him!
Cheap Dynasty "Throw-Ins" to Acquire
The players listed below are not necessarily going to be the center-piece of your trades, but your league mates might be willing to part with them cheaply, which makes them fun dart throws and assets to add into your trade offers. You can also consider offering a later-round rookie draft pick, as each of these players has contingent upside and can be viewed as "risk-free" additions to your dynasty squad.
- Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (RB68)
- Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles (RB71)
- Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints (WR61)
- DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (WR73)
- Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals (WR89)
- Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (TE29)
- Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (TE30)
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